The Gettysburg Address

Lincoln claims that the Civil War... 

• Brought forth a new nation on the continent 
• Is testing whether a nation dedicated to liberty can survive
• Can only endure while soldiers are willing to give their lives
• Has been the proper way to decide whether or not all men are created equal

Lincoln encourages those listening to his speech to...

• ensure that the soldiers did not die in vain by volunteering in the army.
•  complete the great task of winning the war.
•  dedicate themselves to remembering the brave men who sacrificed their lives by writing about it.
•  honor those who sacrificed their lives by ensuring that the United States recommits itself to liberty.

Which statement best summarizes the central idea of the speech?

• The influence of the founders on our nation should be limited since the country has changed and endured so much since the American Revolution.
• The best way to honor the sacrifice of the dead Union soldiers is to continue fighting to preserve the nation and its values.
• The Union soldiers who died in the Battle of Gettysburg were heroes because they guaranteed liberty for all Americans through their sacrifice.
• Lincoln believes that the Union’s efforts in the Civil War have been courageous and inspiring, but will most likely not lead to victory.

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Which phrase from the text best supports the central idea?

• “Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.” 
• “We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field”
• “But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate—we can not consecrate—we can not hallow—this ground.”
• “It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced.”

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What effect does the opening sentence have on Lincoln’s message in the speech?

• It conveys a tone of great sadness, emphasizing the tragedy of so many lives being lost in the Civil War.
• It emphasizes how the United States lost the ideals of liberty and freedom fought for by the Founding Fathers.
• It portrays the Civil War as a continuation of the United States’ enduring commitment to liberty and equality.
• It encourages listeners to remember that the Founding Fathers knew that slavery should not exist in their nation.

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Based on the text, which statement best describes Lincoln’s views on the significance of the Civil War?

• Lincoln believes that the war will show whether or not all Americans support liberty and equality.
• Lincoln believes that the war will reveal whether or not a country committed to liberty and equality can survive.
• Lincoln feels that it is important for the citizens of a country to always remember and honor the soldiers that die in battle.
• Lincoln does not believe that the the survival of the United States is threatened, so the war is not as important as some people believe.